Instagram story viewer> @wildturkeydoc> Tagged

wildturkeydoc

@wildturkeydoc

58.2K

followers

530

following

Wild turkey researcher, hunter

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

This week, wildturkeyDNA rolls into the hills of West Virginia to determine the origin of the odd plumage in the turkey Nicholas shot during spring 2026. We’ll post results tomorrow but drop your thoughts as to the origin of the unique plumage in this turkey in the comments below. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
.
.
.
#science #conservation

277

8

When Tim harvested this turkey in Louisiana during spring 2026, he quickly reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we could help him determine the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. In short, Tim wondered whether he shot a smoke phase wild turkey, or a Heritage turkey that had escaped or been released. The tail feathers on this bird appear normal for a wild turkey, although the tips on both the tail feathers and rump feathers are lighter than you’d expect for the Eastern subspecies, which is what occurs in Louisiana. The secondary coverts on the wing are white with black tips, and the contour feathers on the body are also white with varying amounts of black in them. Well, genetics testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this turkey is 100% wild turkey. In the second image, you can clearly see that Tim’s bird clusters solidly with the hundreds of samples we have tested from Eastern wild turkeys. This is the second bird we’ve tested through wildturkeyDNA that appears to be a smoke phase wild turkey! Congratulations to Tim for harvesting such a unique wild turkey and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage variations and evaluate population genetics in these magnificent birds.
.
.
.
#science #research #turkeyhunting

457

16

This week wildturkeyDNA heads down to the bayou in Louisiana where Tim shot a unique looking turkey during spring 2026. We’ll post results tomorrow, but drop your thoughts in the comments as to what you think is the origin of the plumage on this bird? It is a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
.
.
.
#science #research #wildturkeyhunting

851

11

Grab your partner and join us for a night of cornhole, fellowship, and fun!

The UGA Sanford Strutters are teaming up with @woodhavencustomcalls for a cornhole tournament on October 22 at 6 PM at The Pit in Athens!

🎯 $30 per 2-person team
🎓 UGA students only
🏆 Prizes from Tactacam, WoodHaven Custom Calls, Chêne, Marsupial, and more!

Come hang out with @wildturkeydoc , @macywjohnston , and @stanleywymbs while supporting conservation and the hunting heritage!

Scan the QR code on the flyer or go to the link in our bio to register. All are welcome to come hang out even if you don’t play.

#SanfordStrutters #NWTF #WoodHavenCustomCalls

3

4

The Kisatchie National Forest Wild Turkey research project started in 2013 in west central Louisiana to better understand drivers of long term variation in wild turkey population dynamics. Along the way we GPS tagged over 1400 individuals and collected data every hour all year long, VHF tagged another 300 jakes and watched them grow, we tracked over 1200 females and identified over 1700 nests, we manipulated prescribed fire, timber management, forest restoration and even evaluated the impacts hurricane damage had on wild turkeys. The typical wild turkey research project is a few years, this one ran for over a decade, trained a myriad of wild turkey graduate students and field biologists and will continue to provide science useful for management for years to come. 2026 was our final field season, it has been a hell of a lot of fun for me to have directed this project.

149

3

When Zach shot this turkey in Idaho this past spring, he reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to help him figure out the origin of the white plumage in his bird.
.
As with samples from other solid white turkeys we’ve tested, we wanted to know whether Zach’s turkey was a true wild turkey, barnyard bird, a hybrid, or something else.
.
It turns out, genetic testing revealed that this bird is 100% wild turkey, and more specifically, is 100% Merriam’s wild turkey.
.
You can see clearly in the second image, Zach’s bird clusters directly within other samples we’ve tested from Merriam’s wild turkeys. This wild turkey is leucistic, which is caused by a genetic mutation that results in a loss of pigmentation in feathers. Because the mutation only affects melanin deposition in feathers, the other parts of the bird’s body appear normal.
.
Thus far, through wildturkeyDNA we’ve confirmed leucistic wild turkeys across multiple subspecies, and we’re continuing to dig into what the presence of leucistic birds means at a population scale.
.
We congratulate Zach on harvesting such a unique wild turkey and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage color variations and other aspects of population genetics in these magnificent birds.
.
.
.
#science #conservation #research #wildturkeyhunting

4k

20

This week wildturkeyDNA heads to Idaho, and an area with stunning views, to identify the origin of the solid white plumage in Zach’s turkey. We will reveal results tomorrow but drop your comments below as to what you think about the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
.
.
.
#science #research #conservation

2k

11

When Tristen harvested this unique looking turkey in Alabama during spring 2026, he reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we could help determine the origin of the interesting looking plumage on his bird. The primary feathers are entirely black, and the secondary feathers also lack barring but have varying tones of browns with reddish hues. The contour feathers on the back are also quite dark, and the feathers at the base of the tail are darker than you’d expect in an Eastern wild turkey. Lastly, the tail feathers have an interesting black subterminal band along with reddish tones that create a stunning appearance. Genetics testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that Tristen’s bird was 100% wild turkey, and what a beautiful wild turkey it is! You can see in the 3rd image that this bird clusters directly within the hundreds of samples we’ve obtained from Eastern wild turkeys, and this bird’s plumage is the result of multiple genetic mutations that are causing overproduction of melanin, which contributes to the dark plumage. Congratulations to Tristan for harvesting such a beautiful and unique wild turkey, and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage variations in these magnificent birds.

968

5

This week, wildturkeyDNA stays put in Alabama to take a look at a truly unique turkey harvested by Tristan during spring 2026. We’ll post results tomorrow, but drop your thoughts in the comments as to the origin of the unique plumage on this bird. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?

1k

16

Attention fall turkey hunters in Virginia, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine! Your next hunt could unlock vital answers for wild turkey conservation.
The wildturkeyDNA research team wants to expand sample collection across these target states, and citizen-scientists like you hold the key.

Here is how you can help protect the future of the flock:

1. Visit wildturkeydna.com and click register.
2. If selected, a free, postage-paid collection kit will be sent to your door.
3. Harvest a bird this fall? Drop a sample in the vial and mail it back.
4. No harvest this season? Hold onto your kit for spring turkey season!

Every single sample gives researchers crucial insights into landscape and population genetics. Sign up today and make your hunt count for conservation.

427

11

When this turkey was harvested in Alabama during spring 2025, a friend of the hunter reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we’d be interested in figuring out the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. And what a cool looking turkey! The secondary coverts on the wing are mostly white and tipped in black, whereas the primary feathers on the wing appear mostly normal. The secondary feathers are largely white with only faint dark barring. The contour feathers on the body are pale white with black tips, as are the feathers on the upper surface of the wing. Well, genetic testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this turkey is 100% wild turkey! In the 2nd image, you can clearly see that this bird clusters solidly within the many hundreds of samples we have tested from Eastern wild turkeys. Many years ago, the late Lovett Williams published a paper showing several turkeys believed to be fully wild that had smoke gray plumage, and for many years, turkeys that appear similar to this bird from Alabama have been called a smoke color phase. However, whether these birds that are harvested are true wild turkeys or not has been debated for years. Well, this wild turkey certainly appears to fit the description of a smoke color phase and is the first 100% wild turkey with this plumage coloration that we’ve documented through wildturkeyDNA. Congratulations to the lucky hunter who was blessed to harvest such a unique wild turkey, and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage variations in these magnificent birds.

2k

22

This week, wildturkeyDNA heads to Alabama, where a super unique looking turkey was harvested during spring 2025. We’ll post results tomorrow, but drop your thoughts in the comments as to what you think the origin of the unique plumage on this bird is. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?

941

31